Words for 2024: A Year of Resounding Victory!

The Lord says: 

"In spite of the odds, and in spite of all the chaos and shakings in the spiritual realm and physical realm on earth this year, for those who look to Me and put their hope in Me, they will see a year of resounding victory!"

The Lord says:

"There will be many shocks and surprises that the world cannot imagine yet for this year, both in the spiritual realm and physical realm, but fear not! For those who keep looking to Me, I will know how to be their hiding place, and I will know how to lead them to be at the right place at the right time!"

Indeed, this is a year of many surprises. There will be good ones. But there will also be bad ones. But for you who look to the Lord, He has promised you that He will be your refuge and your hiding place. So, fear not!

The Lord says further:

"This is the year of many new ventures and opportunities for you. This is a year you are going to see the unveiling of the new you! You are going to see a new you surfacing. You are going to see your hidden talents and giftings surfacing. You are going to see new opportunities in life that you have never imagined you can walk into. You are going to spring a surprise when no one expects it."

On a personal front, and as an individual, the Lord says this is a year of many pleasant surprises for you. Yes, even in ways that you've never expected it. Just do not limit the Lord. Your part is to keep looking to the Lord. And never let your eyes depart from His Word.

I therefore declare by faith that this is going to be a year of resounding victory for you! This is a year you're going to see the unveiling of the new you! This is a year you're going to see new opportunities and open doors like you've never thought possible! Receive by faith!

To back up this 'resounding victory' that the Lord has spoken, let's go all the way to Psalm 118. This psalm speaks of a very great victory and success for those who look to the Lord. This psalm teaches us that we can trust the Lord more than anyone else on earth. Only the Lord, and no one else, can bring deliverance and resounding victory to us, even against all odds, or despite success being very unlikely. To man, it may be impossible. But to God, all things are possible!

Psalm 118:14-17 (NKJV) says, 'The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation. The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tents of the righteous. The right hand of the Lord does valiantly. The right hand of the Lord is exalted. The right hand of the Lord does valiantly. I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.'   

Right now, the Lord is releasing such anointing and strength upon you. There's a release of fresh anointing upon you to subdue and to walk in a greater victory. There's a release of fresh anointing upon you to walk into the many new things and new ventures in your life. The talents and giftings that you never knew you have, many of these shall begin to surface and be unveiled this year. If you think there's only so much you are good at so far in your life, you are going to be in for a surprise. Or if you think you are good at nothing, or you have been a 'flop' or failure before, you will also be in for a surprise. You will begin to see how much the Lord loves you and how much more He wants to do in your life. In short, it's not over yet! There's more to come in your life! So, take heart!

How do I prepare myself for year 2024? 

Solidify your relationship with the Lord! The word 'solidify' simply means 'to make stronger, to make solid'. In other words, go deeper, closer, and more intimate than ever before with the Lord. Deeper in the Word. Deeper in the Spirit. Deeper in worship. Deeper in prayer. Because there's more that the Lord wants to show you and reveal to you this year. 

I see 'scales' are dropping from the eyes of many people, and the Lord is enlightening the spiritual eyes of understanding of many of His people this year. The things that they couldn't see in the past, they will begin to see, and they will begin to see clearer and clearer. It's like the Lord is clearing the 'dark clouds' around His people this year.

Many people in the world may be busy coming up with resolutions. But you ask the Lord: "O Lord God, let Your Spirit of wisdom and revelation flow in me. Open my spiritual eyes and enlighten my spiritual eyes, so that I will begin to see more and more, deeper and deeper in Your realm. I will begin to see how You see. I will begin to see what You see. Amen." 

Prayer for this year 2024:

"O Lord God, we thank You for the words that You have spoken for the year 2024. We receive our deliverance by faith. We receive our victory by faith. We declare a resounding victory for us, even against all odds, and in spite of the odds that are stacked against us. We declare the unveiling of the many new things in our lives. We declare the unveiling of the many new opportunities and doors being opened for us. In Jesus' name. Amen."

Click here for the full message in TiC YouTube Channel

This is why He is above all!

As we celebrate Jesus and thank Him for His great love toward us, we also want to proclaim that He is the name above all names, the King of kings and the Lord of lords! 

Philippians 2:6-8 (NLT) says, 'Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal's death on the cross.' 

In what ways did Jesus humble Himself? 

1. By taking the form of man, even though He is God! 

2. By being born in a humble setting, i.e. in a manger!

3. By being born in an obscure and poor little town! 

4. By being born as a child, instead of appearing as a man! 

5. By submitting as a child in a common household!

6. By waiting many years before launching into public ministry! 

7. By the people He chose as His companions and His disciples! 

8. By enduring hunger, thirst, and tiredness while on earth! 

9. By choosing to be humiliated, mocked, and shamed! 

10. By choosing to suffer and die an agonizing death on the cross! 

Why He did what He did? For you and I! I mean, He could have said "No" to all the above, but He chose to go through all this! Why? To set us free and pave the way for our eternal life! 

Philippians 2:9-11 (NLT) says, 'Therefore God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.' 

Isaiah 9:1 (NLT) says, 'Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali will be humbled, but there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory.' 

The background here is that there's a huge gloom over God's people at that time. They were surrounded by their enemies who wanted to conquer, destroy, and annihilate them. But God! The Lord had promised this would not go on forever. There would come a time God's light would shine in the midst of the darkness and despair, and God would send a Savior, the Messiah, the True Light! His name is Jesus! 

Isaiah 9:2-3 (NLT) says, 'The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine. You will enlarge the nation of Israel, and its people will rejoice. They will rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest and like warriors dividing the plunder.' 

Isaiah 9:4 (NLT) says, 'For you will break the yoke of their slavery and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders. You will break the oppressor's rod, just as you did when you destroyed the army of Midian.' 

Isaiah 9:6 (NLT) says, 'For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.' 

You see, He didn't come as a grown-up man, or a great warrior. I mean, He could have. After all, He is God! But instead, He came as a child! And there's nothing more vulnerable and helpless than being born as a child, or as a baby! 

Isaiah 9:7 (NLT) says, 'His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven's Armies will make this happen!' 

You see, He is Sovereign! No matter how the devil tries to stop it, and no matter how humans try to stop it, the Lord God is Sovereign! He will make this happen! 

His name is called 'Wonderful' 

The name 'Wonderful' is 'Pele' in Hebrew, and it means 'Miraculous, Marvelous, Extraordinary'. 

Indeed, who He is and what He has done for us should fill us with wonder and amazement! Who could have thought a God who is All-Powerful would do such a humbling thing just to save us? To be born as a child! 

His name is called 'Counselor'

The name 'Counselor' is 'Yoes' in Hebrew, and it means 'Plan, Guide, Purpose.' 

Who else does it better than Jesus to guide our lives, to give us wise counsel, and to give us purpose in our lives? Who else has a plan to save us and rescue us from this broken world? No one else but Jesus! 

His name is called 'Mighty God'

The name 'Mighty God' is 'El Gibbor' in Hebrew. 'El' is the name of God, and 'Gibbor' can mean 'Powerful, Warrior, Champion, Chief, Strong, Valiant, Excellent.'

Who says Jesus is not God? He is indeed more than a prophet and a teacher. He is the God of all creation and God of all glory! He reigns in heaven, and He is worthy to be praised and worshiped!

His name is called 'Everlasting Father'

The name 'Everlasting Father' is 'Abi Ad' in Hebrew. 'Abi' or 'Abba' means 'Father, Chief, Principal of all things', whereas 'Ad' means 'Everlasting, Perpetual, Continuous, Eternal, Never-Ending, Forever'. 

He is forever, He lives forever, and He reigns forever! There is no one like Him! He is the Source and the Author of all eternity! He is the Creator of heaven and earth, and all in it! 

His name is called 'Prince of Peace'

The name 'Prince of Peace' is 'Sar Shalom' in Hebrew. 'Sar' means 'Prince, Captain, Governor, Ruler', whereas 'Shalom' can mean 'Peace, Wholeness, Wellness, Prosperity, Health, Completeness'. In fact, many more! This word 'Shalom' is a broad word! 

Who is this 'Sar Shalom'? He is the One who gives us peace, wholeness, wellness, prosperity, and health! He is the One who makes our lives complete! He is the One who has the peace that the world cannot give! He is the One who gives us the peace that the world cannot give! 

He also makes peace between God and us. How? By reconciling us back to God! He has carried away our sins. He has carried away our curse. He has restored us to where we belong. We belong to the Lord God Almighty. We belong to our Heavenly Father. Amen! 

Click here for the full message in TiC YouTube Channel

Being grateful and contented

A good day to you! The year 2023 is coming to a close. Soon, we are heading into a brand new year. Hallelujah! 

Before we enter into a brand new year, we can take some time to reflect on ourselves. 

What is 'self-reflection', or some people call it 'personal reflection'? 

It is taking the time to think or reflect on ourselves, on what we have done during the year, how we behaved, our attitudes, our desires in life, our motivation in life, etc during this past one year. 

And yes, as we reflect on ourselves, there can be a number of things in our lives that we can be grateful for. No doubt, we all have our share of challenges in life, but looking at the brighter side in life, surely there are also many things that we can be grateful for and thankful for! 

What is the definition of 'being grateful'? In the context of your relationship with God, 'being grateful' is 'feeling or expressing thankfulness for the good things that God has given in your life.' 

How about 'being contented'? In the context of your relationship with God, 'being contented' means 'being happy and satisfied with what God has given in your life, or the willingness to accept yourself and your present stage in life.' 

You see, you don't have to compare yourself with others. Instead, you look to the Lord and receive all the good that He wants to give to you. Now, don't get me wrong. Living a contented life doesn't mean you cannot have dreams or ambitions in life. It doesn't mean you cannot look forward to improving your life. But what I'm saying is living a contented life simply means accepting your present stage in life with peace and positivity. And of course, being thankful for who you are, and what God has given in your life. 

In Philippines 4:11-12a (NKJV), Paul wrote, 'Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content. I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound.' 

See the word 'content' here? In other words, Paul wrote that in every circumstance of his life, he has learned to be content.

Let's read from another version, the Amplified Bible. 'Not that I speak from [any personal] need, for I have learned to be content [and self-sufficient through Christ, satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or uneasy] regardless of my circumstances. I know how to get along and live humbly [in difficult times], and I also know how to enjoy abundance and live in prosperity.' 

As Paul had mentioned here, he learned to be content, trusting in the Lord that whatever the time and season he's in, he's not alone. And he can therefore say, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." That's in Philippians 4:13, just one verse later. Paul knew in whatever circumstance that he faced in life, the Lord's there to strengthen him, and therefore, 'he can do all things through Christ who strengthens him.' Without God, he knew he couldn't. But with God, all things are possible. 

Now, it is the same with your life. We all have our own unique life story. Whatever your life story may be, one thing for sure is you can count on the Lord to see you through. As for my wife (Sharon) and I, we have come a long way since we left our accountancy career those days and began serving the Lord full-time some 25 years ago in various ministry capacities. We have seen how faithful God has been to us. Yes, in good times, and even in challenging times, we have tasted and seen how good He is to us. We are grateful. 

So, you too, you can count on the Lord to do things that are otherwise impossible for you to do. Your part is to keep looking to Him, counting on Him, trusting in Him, and of course, obeying His every instruction for your life. When He says so, you say so. When He says no, you say no. And He will know how to lead you and guide you. Remember, He will never lead you into trouble or dead-end road. He will always make a way for you. Amen! 

Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV) says, 'Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.'

The word 'thanksgiving' here is 'eucharistia' in Greek. It means 'being thankful, being grateful, having gratitude in life'. So, in a time like this, let us be grateful and thankful to the Lord. And let us say to the Lord, "O Lord God, I thank You for all the good that You have done in my life. Yes, even if there are some areas in my life that I do not understand, but I just give thanks to You. Because I know all things will somehow work together for good in my life." 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NKJV) says, 'Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.' 

In everything give thanks! That's what Paul wrote here. 

What is the meaning of 'pray without ceasing'? It means 'constantly praying and having fellowship with the Lord, and having the consciousness of being in His presence throughout each day.'

What is the meaning of 'in everything give thanks'? It simply means 'living a life of gratitude and thanksgiving, and learning to count your blessings.' 

There will always be things, even seemingly little things in your life, that you can give thanks for. For example, your bed, your home, your loved ones who really care for you and pray for you, etc. Now, different people different. You can list down all the things, even the little things in your life, that you can give thanks for. Amen! 

Psalm 107:1-2 (NKJV) says, 'Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy.' 

Yes, He is the Lord who knows how to redeem you. And indeed, He is the Lord who knows how to redeem your lost time. He is a God of repair and restoration. 

Psalm 95:1-2 (NKJV) says, 'Oh come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving. Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.' Hallelujah! See the word 'thanksgiving' here?

James 1:17 (NKJV) says, 'Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.' 

There is no doubt, without any shadow of doubt, that He is a good God, and that He is the Source of every good thing in your life. Therefore, what is your part? Your part is to keep looking to Him and His goodness in your life. Keep receiving the goodness of God in your life. Taste and see more and more of God's goodness in your life!

Lamentations 3:22-24 (NKJV) says, 'Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness. "The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "Therefore I hope in Him."' 

What does it mean by 'the Lord is your portion'? The Lord is your inheritance! What are some of His inheritances? He is the Source of joy in your life. He is the Source of blessings in your life. He is the Source of security in your life. He is the Source of provision in your life. He is the Source of comfort in your life. He is the Source of strength in your life. He is everything in your life. He is your portion. All these inheritances that I've written here, and even more, have been given to you!

So, if you read here, "The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "Therefore I hope in Him.", the author of this book meant, "Because the Lord is my portion, I can be rest assured that I can hope in Him and look to Him. Because He is a God who is faithful to me, and He is a God who will never fail me." Amen! 

So beloved of God, let us be grateful and be contented not just for what He can give to us, but for who He is to us. Thank God for He is a merciful God. Thank God for He is a loving and forgiving God. Thank God for He is a compassionate God. Thank God for who He is in our lives! 

What if you have made a mistake in life, or you think you blew it, or messed up? Remember, as a beloved of God, He is for you and not against you. It's not the end of the world. Return to His ways. It isn't too late yet. To God, 'a thousand years is as a day', the Bible says. It means what humans can achieve in 1,000 years, He (God) can accomplish it in just one day. That's how great He is. He can therefore redeem you. He can redeem your lost time. He is a God of restoration in your life. So, forgive yourself. Condemn yourself no more. Learn from those mistakes, yes, but look ahead and rise up again. Rise up and soar higher than ever before. He is here for you, and His hands are here to carry you!

Right now, I pray for the anointing of the Holy Spirit to be upon you (for you) to soar higher than ever before, and to soar to the next level. In spite of all those troubles and challenging times you've had in your life, be rest assured that the Lord's grace is more than enough for you. The Lord's grace is sufficient for you. His anointing is upon you (for you) to soar higher than all those storms, and to soar like that of an eagle. Amen!

Let us pray: "O Lord God, we thank You not just for what You can give to us, but also for who You are to us. We thank You for Your mercy. We thank You for Your lovingkindness. We thank You for Your love for us that never fails. There are indeed so many things we can give thanks for. We are thankful that You are still the same faithful God - yesterday, today, and forever. We thank You that You will know how to work all things together for good in our lives. We thank You for the year that is past. And we thank You in advance for the year ahead of us. It's going to be a brand new start. It's going to be a good year ahead. In Jesus' name. Amen." 

Click here for the full message in TiC YouTube Channel

Urgent message: Be alert against the offers of the enemy!

The Lord says: 

"Never give up waiting on Me and trusting in My perfect timing. Never allow the enemy to sidetrack and distract. The enemy is trying to sway My people away from looking to Me and putting their trust in Me. The enemy is trying to offer My people a lot of creative and seemingly better alternatives that are not from Me. Never buy all these lies. Even if the answers seem to be delayed, stay firm in what I have promised and spoken in My Word." 

There can be 1001 spirits or kinds of spirits trying to lure God's people nowadays. This is the end time. This is that perilous time. That's why it is so important for God's people to stay alert, and walk even closer with the Holy Spirit. Because only the Holy Spirit in you can help you to discern what is of God and what is not. 

Some people may say, "What if my prayers have not been answered yet?" or "What if the answers that I've been waiting for from the Lord seem to be delayed, and the Lord has been silent?" They would then say, "That's why I went after other ways."

This reminds me of Exodus 32 when Moses went up to Mount Sinai and he never came back at the time the people expected him to come back. And you know what? Instead of waiting for Moses, they chose to move on and worship other gods. That was the beginning of a disaster for them. 

When the people saw how long it took for Moses to come back down the mountain, they gathered around Aaron. Now watch what they said: "Come on, make us some gods who can lead us. We don't know what had happened to this fellow Moses who brought us here from the land of Egypt." Aaron answered: "Take the gold rings from the ears of your wives and sons and daughters, and bring them to me." 

When Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, this caused the people to be anxious. Yes, admittedly, Moses was delayed. But there's a reason why God allowed the delay. If only God's people would wait a little longer, this wait would have been over soon. But you know what? The people couldn't wait. 

So, Aaron took the gold, melted it down, and molded it into the shape of a calf. When the people saw it, they exclaimed, "O Israel, these are the gods who brought you out of the land of Egypt!" Aaron saw how excited the people were. So, he built an altar in front of the calf, and the people worshiped it. 

For the record, Moses was gone forty days. That seemed a long time to the people. However, in the presence of the Lord, that was just a short time to Moses. But the people couldn't wait. That's why they were looking for alternatives. 

You see, how we handle a delay is so important. Do we keep trusting in God's perfect timing? Do we still keep looking to the Lord? Do we have this deep assurance that the Lord will somehow, in His perfect timing, answer us and reply us, in His way? Or do we look somewhere else and drift away from God, thinking that He is not powerful enough? 

Unfortunately, Aaron (the leader in the absence of Moses) bowed down to the pressure of the people. He bowed down to the popular opinion of the people. This was an example of the will of the people prevailing over the will of God. 

Upon knowing all the above, Moses pleaded with the Lord for mercy for the people. Imagine his heartbreak when he saw how Aaron had let the people get completely out of control! Of course the enemy is happy. Moses had to take some very necessary steps to put a stop to all these, so that the people could be restored back to the Lord their God. 

Now, this 'gold calf' in our modern times today may not be exactly 'gold calf' per say, and may not be a 'physical idol' per say, but it can be any spirit, influence, or practice that is not from the Holy Spirit. And in this age, they are very creative to lure away God's people. In fact, they have become more and more creative in luring God's people away. These spirits are very good at camouflage; disguising and hiding themselves behind some very attractive and seemingly innocent outward facade, telling people their practices, their way of meditation, and their way of doing things are good for health and give people peace. 

But you know what? For those who are walking closely with the Holy Spirit, they know what is the difference. They know what is of God and what is not. They know such false peace is definitely not the peace from the Holy Spirit. So, may the Lord awaken His people! May the Lord awaken them from all these 'spells' and all these influences of the work of darkness! And awaken to the Lord their God! 

You just need to watch what people say or do in the social media nowadays to know how many believers of the Lord have been swayed by these subtleties and "alternative offers" from the power of darkness. In other words, these spirits are actually saying to God's people, "Hey, your God is not able to help you anymore. Your God is not sufficient for you. Come on here. Join us!" And many believers of the Lord have been subtly tricked into thinking these alternatives can bring them greater peace. But these are lies. Only the Lord your God, YHWH, gives true and lasting peace. 

Many of these spiritual practices look nothing harmful on the surface, but it is a way to draw believers away from relying solely on the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God. Anyone who walks closely with the Holy Spirit will be able to sense and discern what is of the Holy Spirit, and what is not of the Holy Spirit. 

The anointing of the Holy Spirit is now here to break every yoke, every bondage, and every spell! The anointing of the Holy Spirit is being released now to break that spell, and set people free! The anointing of the Holy Spirit is now waking people up from their spiritual slumber! I know what I'm saying, because one aspect of my ministry has been deliverance ministry. I've seen all kinds of manifestations of the power of darkness right before my eyes. 

The truth is the Holy Spirit in you is sufficient to teach you peace and life. You don't need any other. The Holy Spirit is sufficient to give you all that you ever need in life here on earth. Never sell yourself to any other influence that do not come from the Holy Spirit. 

Now, this message may not be for you who are walking closely with the Lord. But it may be for the people around you, and maybe even some family members of yours. I want to pray for this release of the anointing of the Holy Spirit upon you, upon your family, and upon those who are around you. Let this anointing destroy every slumber, every yoke, and every spell! Be set free! And let the life and the peace of the Lord fill you all in all. In Jesus' name. Amen! 

Click here for the full message in TiC YouTube Channel

How to know your time and season in life?

Let's talk about time and season in our lives, and how we can flow in God's time and season for each of our lives. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of flowing with God's time and season for each of our lives. 

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NKJV) says, 'To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.' 

Notice the words 'under heaven' here? It means 'on this earth'. There is a time and season for everything here on this earth.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NKJV) says, 'He has made everything beautiful in its time...' 

Whether it's in the spiritual realm, or whether it's in the natural (physical) realm, it is the same. And not just us. Even animals too are created with the ability to sense and cope with time and season. 

For example, winter can be harsh in the wild. There is less food available in winter time. These animals need to learn to prepare enough food and enough warmth as winter draws near. What happens if they miss their time? Their chances of survival will be slim. Some animals would collect or gather food in the hole or underground. Some animals would grow thicker coat of fur, so they can retain heat. In fact, some other animals would avoid the difficulties of winter by reducing their metabolic rate, going into a time of hibernating when the body temperature drops and the heartbeat reduces. So, they might look like dormant, almost like dead, but they are actually alive. 

So, how do you know you are in time, out of time, or behind time? How do you know if you are walking in the perfect timing of the Lord? How do you know the time and season in your life, in every aspect of your life? And how not to miss your time? 

In 1 Chronicles 12:32 (NKJV), the Bible says, '...of the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do...' 

The name 'Issachar' here is interesting. It's 'Yissakar' in Hebrew, from the root word 'naw-sar'. This word 'naw-sar' means 'to lift, to rise (higher than others)'. 

Interestingly, the Hebrew word for 'eagle' is 'nesher', and this word also comes from the same root word 'naw-sar'. 

So people of God, may you have such eagle's vision, and may you be so sensitive in the spirit as you flow with God's time and season in your life! 

You see, there's a time for waiting, and there's a time for soaring. There's a time to move forward, and there's a time to return to the nest. 

Eagles have such awesome sense of timing. You know that they hardly crash. They just know when to plunge to catch the prey, and when to lift up after catching the prey at the sea. 

May you be like that eagle ('nesher')! May you lift and rise higher than the storms above you! May you soar with the winds of the Holy Spirit! May you soar in the ways of the Lord! 

My prayer for you right now is the Lord will sensitize your spirit to know your time and season in your life; to walk in it, to flow with it, and to see His good hands in your life!

Very interestingly, the word 'times' here in 1 Chronicles 12:32 is 'paam' in Hebrew, which speaks of 'the movement in the spiritual realm'. 

May you too know the movement in the spiritual realm around you! 

The key here is to be connected to the Holy Spirit who is all-knowing. It is when you are in tune and connected with the Holy Spirit that you'll be able to catch the "frequency" and "transmission" of the Holy Spirit in your life. It is when you are in tune and connected with the Holy Spirit that you'll be able to catch what the Holy Spirit is doing in your life. And that's how you'll move with such precision like that of an eagle ('nesher')! 

There are three ways to see time: kronos, kairos, and atomos. 

First, 'kronos' time. 

What is a 'kronos' time? 

It is a time to keep building, building, building... and a time to keep preparing, preparing, preparing...  It's like a planter who keeps tending the plants, yet no fruits to be harvested yet. Or it's like a tree growing its fruits, but not ripe for the picking yet. A waiting time is not a wasted time. A waiting time is a time of strengthening, building, and preparing. If you are in such a time now, continue to build yourself in the Word and in the Spirit. Continue to prepare yourself for the greater things that are coming in your life! 

This Greek word 'kronos' is where the English words 'chronicles' or 'chronology' come from. It means 'a time implying a fixed time (or duration), a waiting time, or a time that can be measured (by the physical clock)'. 

Second, 'kairos' time. 

What is a 'kairos' time? 

It is a time when the 'fruit' is ripe for the 'picking' or 'harvesting'! In 1 Chronicles 12:32, in the Greek Old Testament, the word 'times' here, or 'paam' in Hebrew, is translated as 'kairos'. It means 'a time or occasion implying a set time (or a time set by God), an opportune time (when a thing should be done), or an appointed time (to accomplish a God-given task)'. In short, it means 'the right moment', 'the right opportunity', or 'an opportune time'. 

Very interestingly, the next few chapters following 1 Chronicles 12:32 are about the right time or the right timing to bring the ark of the covenant, which speaks of 'the presence of the Lord, or the glory of the Lord', back to the city of God! You can see that in 1 Chronicles chapters 13, 14, and 15. Here, the right time to bring back the ark of the covenant to the city of God had come! They did it, and they saw the glory of the Lord! 

Third, 'atomos' time. 

What is an 'atomos' time?

It is a time of our final victory as believers of the Lord Jesus Christ! Of course, if you are reading this, this time has not come yet. This is because the Lord wants you to make the most out of your current time. He wants you to fulfill His calling for your life here on earth. He wants you to fulfill His vision and mission for you here on earth. But there will come a time when 1 Corinthians 15:52 will come, as the Bible says, 'In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.' Rapture time! 

The word 'moment' here is 'atomos' in Greek, which actually means 'uncut, indivisible'. This word 'atomos' is where the English words 'atom' or 'atomic' come from. You see, even 'one second' can be further divided into, say, 'half a second', 'a quarter of a second', 'a hundredth of a second', or even 'a thousandth of a second'. But an 'atomos' is a unit that cannot be further divided.

And in such 'atomos' time, 'in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye', someday, Jesus returns! And that's when we shall all be in eternity. Not time-bound anymore. Not limited by time anymore. Ageless! 

1 Corinthians 15:53-54 (NKJV) backs this up, 'For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So, when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory"'. Amen! 

So, you have 'kronos' time, you have 'kairos' time, and in the future, you have that 'atomos' time! 

Let's look at one example now. 

Let's look at Joseph's life. Joseph went through different stages (or seasons) in his life. It can be summarized in Acts 7:9-14 (NKJV) here. 'And the patriarchs, becoming envious, sold Joseph into Egypt. But God was with him and delivered him out of all his troubles, and gave him favor and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh, king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house. Now a famine and great trouble came over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and our fathers found no sustenance. But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first, and the second time Joseph was made known to his brothers, and Joseph's family became known to the Pharaoh. Then Joseph sent and called his father Jacob and all his relatives to him, seventy-five people.' 

That was a time of reuniting! Jacob (Joseph's father) and all of Joseph's brothers came to Egypt, and they were all reunited with Joseph! 

There are five stages (or seasons) in Joseph's life. 

1. Adored by his father. 

2. Despised by his brothers. 

3. Served under a foreign master. 

4. Employed by a foreign king. 

5. Reunited with his family. 

Very interestingly, Joseph's life is a 'picture' of Jesus Himself on earth. Joseph started off as his father Jacob's favorite son. And in the very end, Joseph was reunited with his father Jacob. Look at Jesus now. He came from the Father. He returned to the Father. It is the same with each of us. We came from God the Father. We shall return to God the Father!

Like Joseph, each of us has our own unique life story too. We all have our time and season. We all have our stages and seasons in life. Our part is to continue to trust the Lord that He knows what He's doing in our lives, and trust the Lord that all things will eventually work out for good in our lives. 

So beloved of God, whatever you've been going through in your life at the moment, keep looking to the Lord. The Lord sometimes allows certain things to happen in our lives, because He sees farther than us and He knows better than us. Continue to stay connected with the Lord. You may not understand everything that He is doing at the moment, but one day, you will understand. His ways and His thoughts are always higher than ours. He is a good God, and you shall see that He is indeed a good God in your life. Amen!

Prayer: 

"O Lord God, we thank You that You are a Sovereign God. We want to learn to walk in Your time and season in our lives. We know that You see farther than us and You know better than us. We want to stay connected to You, and we want to stay in tune with Your Spirit. We want to be like the "eagle" who knows how to soar higher than any storm on earth. We want to be like the "eagle" who knows how to soar in the wind of the Holy Spirit. We want to flow in Your time and season. We will know when to move ahead and when to let go. We will know when to rise and when to rest. We will know when to harvest and when to prepare. In Jesus' name. Amen."

Click here for the full message in TiC YouTube Channel

How to break the yoke of sorrow and receive joy?

During a prayer meeting the other day, the Lord showed me a vision. In the vision, I saw the power of darkness putting some kind of blanket over certain people and homes, even certain cities, towns, and countries. This power of darkness caused the sunlight to be hindered, and as a consequence, the spiritual atmosphere over that place or that home became stale, dull, and damp. Then, I saw joy, the joy of the Lord, being squeezed out from that place. I saw that blanket sent by the forces of darkness covered the people with sorrow. There's like a yoke and heavy burden of sorrows being wrapped over that place, or that family, or that person. 

The Lord then spoke to me to take authority and bind those yoke of sorrow. 

He spoke further: 

"There's a fresh release of My anointing to break and destroy every yoke of sorrow right now. Sorrow is being dissipated and dispersed. When the sorrow is gone, the joy that comes from Me, that comes from heaven, is going to take over. Receive this joy from heaven! Receive a fresh new lease of life from heaven!" 

Beloved of God, if you have been going through a situation when suddenly you are overwhelmed with sorrow for no reason, or suddenly you are overwhelmed with hopelessness and purposelessness in your life, this message is for you. 

Yes, right now, receive this anointing to break and destroy every sorrow in your life, and receive the joy of the Lord which is your strength!

Maybe recently some of you have heard of certain news that caused your heart to feel like your heart is dropping, or your heart feels like being crushed. Or you may have heard of something from someone or received news from someone that breaks your heart. Or maybe someone has told you certain matters that caused your heart to be sad. It may be a hurtful news. It may be a hurtful thing said and done by someone whom you care for, or whom you love, or someone who matters to you. Whatever it may be, whatever that causes you to be sorrowful, the Lord has a good news for you today. The Lord knows it, and the Lord knows how to put a stop to those sorrows in your life. 

Let's go to the Scripture now. 

Psalm 30:11-12 (NLT) says, 'You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!' 

The word 'joy' here is 'simkhaw' in Hebrew, which can mean 'gladness, rejoicing, celebration'. Yes beloved, always find reasons to celebrate in your life, no matter how small the reason may be. The Lord wants you to celebrate all of His goodness in your life. And of course, the Lord wants you to live a life of thanksgiving and gratefulness. Give thanks to Him in everything, yes, even in advance for the good things that are to come in your life! 

Jeremiah 31:13 (NLT) says, 'The young women will dance for joy - and the men old and young - will join in the celebration. I will turn their mourning into joy. I will comfort them and exchange their sorrow for rejoicing.' 

Even though this verse is specifically for the people of Israel and the Lord's promise of restoration for Israel, but this can apply to you (God's beloved) too. The Lord is telling you there's hope for restoration in your life as well! 

This word 'joy' here is 'sawsone' in Hebrew, which can mean 'cheerful, welcoming, rejoicing'. Let me explain. Why the word 'welcoming' here? The joy of knowing you are always welcome into God's presence as you draw near to Him in worship, and the joy of knowing you are always welcome to partake in all the goodness that the Lord wants you to have and experience! Now, knowing this, your sorrow will be lifted away, and joy comes in your life! You see, weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning!

You may have gone through a time of mourning and sorrow, or you are under certain bondage of sorrow, but the good news for you today is God has promised to turn all this into joy! The joy of knowing you are loved with an everlasting love of the Lord. The joy of knowing that God is here to restore you and repair you. The joy of knowing that there is hope and purpose in your life, no matter what had happened in your past. The joy of knowing that the Lord your God is greater than any form of sorrow that is being sent against you. Amen! That's what Jeremiah 31:13 mean here!

You see, you are living in the spiritual realm, the heavenly realm, even though you are on earth. Now, in the heavenly realm, there's no sorrow. In His presence is fullness of joy. So, walk in this presence. Walk in this heavenly realm. Walk in this joy of the Lord. Amen! 

Isaiah 61:1-3 (NLT) says, 'The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord's favor has come, and with it, the day of God's anger against their enemies. To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair...' 

You see here? The Lord wants to bless you with this joy, the joy that comes only from Him, the joy that comes from heaven. Not only that! Look here. 'Festive praise instead of despair'. Wow! That's celebration! Festive praise! And not just that! He is also turning your ashes into beauty. Now, what does 'ashes' symbolize here? 'Ashes' speaks of 'hopelessness'. 'Ashes' speaks of 'mourning'. When things turn into ashes, there's no way to restore it again and to make it whole. But that's how the world sees it and how the world thinks. But to God, even ashes can be restored into something beautiful again!

Indeed, this is the time for your vindication. This is the time for a turn around in your life. Yes, this is the time the Lord is turning things around for you! So, rejoice and be glad therefore! Give thanks to Him, for He is good and His mercy endures forever! Hallelujah! 

Isaiah 61:7 (NLT) says, 'Instead of shame and dishonor, you will enjoy a double share of honor. You will possess a double portion of prosperity in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours.' 

Whatever trouble, shame, or dishonor sent by the enemy against you in your life, you are now receiving double share of honor. That's what the Scripture say! And look here. 'Everlasting joy will be yours'. Not a temporary joy that the world gives, but everlasting joy directly from heaven to you! Now, this joy cannot be destroyed by anything or anyone in this world. Because this joy is from God. Amen! 

Let's continue with Nehemiah 8:9-10 (NLT). "Don't mourn or weep on such a day as this! For today is a sacred day before the Lord your God." And Nehemiah continued, "Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don't be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!" 

You see the words 'the joy of the Lord is your strength' here? It means the joy of the Lord is your strength to carry on and to look forward in life! Without this strength, it is not easy to carry on in life and to look forward. So you see, this joy from the Lord is the key. This joy of the Lord is the key to your strength, and with this strength, you can carry on, and you can move forward in your life. Hallelujah! 

Nehemiah 8:12 (NLT) says, 'So the people went away to eat and drink at a festive meal, to share gifts of food, and to celebrate with great joy because they had heard God's words and understood them.' 

In that context, they were eating rich foods and drinking sweet drinks, literally. But it can also symbolize receiving spiritual food and spiritual drink. The Word of God. The Spirit of God. Word and Spirit. Spirit and Word. So, keep eating the rich from the Lord and drinking the sweet from the Lord! 

Last but not least, to take authority and to bind every stray thought. Now, this is a very important principle to kill off whatever sorrow and to receive joy. Never entertain even for a few seconds those thoughts that are sent by the enemy. Never let those thoughts grow and fester. Don't let what's in your past to linger in your mind. Because if you don't let go of your past, you cannot move ahead. Now, anything that is a joy-killer and joy-stealer, take authority against it! It means whatever that kills or steals your joy, you take authority! No one and nothing in this world can or should be able to take away and rob away God's joy in your life! 

So, take authority and bind all those stray thoughts and negative thoughts! Cast those down! Set your mind free! Receive this anointing from the Lord to set you free! And that's how you are free and you are free indeed! Set free from every bondage of sorrow, and walking in the joy of the Lord. Amen!

Prayer: 

"O Lord God, we receive this joy that comes directly from You. We receive a fresh release of Your anointing that breaks and destroys every yoke of sorrow in our lives right now. Yes, we see all these sorrows dissipated and dispersed. You have turned things around for our lives. You have turned our sorrows into joy, our mourning into dancing. We therefore now take authority and bind every stray thought or negative thought that's been sent by the enemy against us. In You, O Lord, we triumph! In You, O Lord, we receive Your joy which is our strength! In You, O Lord, we see our hope and restoration! In You, O Lord, we have our victory! In Jesus' name. Amen!"

Click here to watch the video in TiC YouTube Channel

A soft and tender heart before Him

The Lord says: 

"You are still in a season of repair and restoration. Repairing and restoring your relationship with the Holy Spirit is foremost. With this, everything else in life will begin to flow. You may not understand fully what I am doing in your life now, or why I am doing what I am doing, but one day you will understand. All things work together for good." 

Beloved of God, we are still in this season of repair and restoration. I want to talk about our relationship with the Holy Spirit today. So, let's go back to the basics today. Let's go back to the very simplicity of who the Holy Spirit is in our lives. 

A lot of people go around looking for formulas or methods to achieve their ambitions or whatever they want in their life. But that's not how one works with the Holy Spirit. Instead, a heart that is soft, tender, yielded, and pliable (i.e. easily bended) before the Holy Spirit is the key. When He says so, you say so. When He says no, you say no. When He says do this, you do this. When He says do that, you do that. When He says go here, you go here. When He says go there, you go there. When He says let go, you let go. When He says hang on, you hang on. 

Well, this is how I live my life. 

Sometimes, it may even seem to be foolish to those who don't understand what God is doing in my life and in the ministry God has entrusted to me. But eventually they will understand. And sometimes, people's minds got "jammed" as to why I chose to do what I do. But I am just obeying God and doing what God says, every step of the way in my life. If God says let go, I let go. If God says move ahead, I move ahead. 

So, what is 'yieldedness' in one's life? It can be defined as 'not insisting on our own ways or own fleshly desires; but yielded, submitted, and surrendered to Him and His way'. That's what 'yieldedness' mean. It means when He corrects, we can humble ourselves, and we do not need to get offended or fight back. You know why? Because He, the Holy Spirit, is all knowing, not us. The Holy Spirit will show you what to do, every step of the way. He will even show you the (hidden) sins and motives in your life that you need to let go.

One example is David, a man after God's heart. Nathan, a prophet raised up by the Lord at that time, represented 'the Spirit of the Lord (who spoke to David)'. Now, David was a king and powerful in his position on earth at that time. He was the king of Israel and Judah. David could have been offended by Nathan. David could have even killed Nathan in order to shut his mouth. But no! David's heart was soft and tender enough before the Lord. David admitted his sins and wrongs. This is one example of a heart that is soft, tender, yielded, and pliable before the Lord. 

So you see, we need to return to the simplicity of who He is. The people of this world have made this life so complicated. But we need not fall into that. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you and guide you to return to the simplicity of who He is, even as you come to Him just as you are. 

What is our part? Our part is to humble ourselves before Him. When He leads and guides, we follow. When He corrects, we choose to change our ways, and not insist on our own ways. Why? Because He sees farther than us, and His ways are always higher than ours. So, let His will be done in our lives, not our own fleshly desires. He will never lead us into trouble. I believe this is the key to living a life of good success on this earth (i.e. success that is measured by the Lord, not by this fallen world). 

Let's look further at David now. 2 Samuel 12:13 (NKJV) says, 'So David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the Lord." And Nathan said to David, "The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."' 

What is the background here? The Lord used a prophet named Nathan to deal with David, or rather, to rebuke David of his wrongs. You see, the Holy Spirit has not been poured out yet during that Old Testament time. So, Nathan here represents 'the Holy Spirit speaking and correcting'. At that time, David had committed adultery with Bathsheba, and he even cunningly had Bathsheba's husband (Uriah) killed! 

But the wonderful thing is this. When Nathan came to rebuke David, David didn't kill the prophet. Instead, David came to his senses. I mean, he could have killed the prophet. After all, he's king. But, instead of hardening his heart, David said, "I have sinned against the Lord." 

Here, you see a heart that is soft and tender before the Lord. Here, you see a heart that is yielded and pliable before the Lord. David wasn't perfect in many ways. But the Lord's not looking at all that. The Lord's looking at his heart. 

Now it is the same with our hearts before the Lord. He's not looking at all those sins. He's not all-out looking at those sins in order to expose you. But He's looking at your heart. Is your heart willing? Is your heart willing to be changed by the Lord? Is your heart yielded before the Lord? Is your heart soft and tender before the Lord? This is what He is looking for even right now. 

In cross-reference, you can look at Psalm 51. 

In Psalm 51:3-4 (NKJV), David said, "For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight..." 

In Psalm 51:10 (KJV), David said, "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." 

What is a right spirit? A spirit (or a heart) that is soft, tender, yielded, and pliable before the Holy Spirit. A heart that is not putting up a front. But a heart that is willing to humble. In other words, a heart that is willing to let the Holy Spirit have His way in one's life. 

David was willing to allow the Lord to deal with him. This is what touches the Lord's heart the most. The same it is today. The Lord has never changed in His ways. And you know what? David didn't look back ever since. He went on to become arguably the greatest king ever in Israel!

Let us contrast between David and Pharaoh. While David's heart was softened when the Lord dealt with him, Pharaoh's heart was the opposite. Pharaoh's heart was hardened further when the Lord dealt with him. See? One, a soft heart, and another, a hard heart. 

Exodus 7:14 (NKJV) says, 'So the Lord said to Moses, "Pharaoh's heart is hard; he refuses to let the people go."' 

What is the background of this verse here? The Lord actually used Moses and Aaron to tell Pharaoh to let the people of Israel go. But Pharaoh refused. Instead, his heart was hardened even more. 

Exodus 9:34-35 (NKJV) says, 'And when Pharaoh saw that the rain, the hail, and the thunder had ceased, he sinned yet more; and he hardened his heart, he and his servants. So the heart of Pharaoh was hard; neither would he let the children of Israel go, as the Lord has spoken by Moses.' 

What does this word 'harden' mean here? In Hebrew, it is 'qashah'. It can mean 'to be tough, to be sore, to be stiff, to be fierce, to react negatively, to be defensive'. The more the Lord told him to let the people of Israel go, the more his heart was hardened. So, it's clear here that Pharaoh refused to acknowledge the words of the Lord. Not until the tenth plague, when his firstborn died, that he gave in. You know what? Pharaoh stood to lose so much more in the end. Not only did he lose his firstborn, he lost his entire mighty army and chariots who got drowned in the Red Sea! 

So beloved of God, the Lord is giving each of us a choice even right now. The Lord is asking us, "Do you want to choose to be a David, or do you want to choose to be a Pharaoh?" Let us choose to be a David, a heart that is soft and tender before the Lord. Amen! 

Let us pray: 

"O Lord God, we choose to be like David, and not Pharaoh. Teach us to have a heart that is soft and tender before You. Teach us to have a heart that is yielded to what You say. There may be many things we do not understand now, what You are doing in our lives, and why You are doing what You are doing in our lives, but one day we will understand. Because You are always a God who wants the very best for us. You are always a God who sees farther than anyone of us can see. In Jesus' name. Amen." 

Click here for the full message in TiC YouTube Channel

Receive the cleansing power!

What is the major difference between the blood of the New Covenant and the blood of the Old Covenant? 

In the Old Covenant, the blood shed by animal sacrifice was only temporary and needed to be offered over and over again, year after year, for the sins of the people. 

All these animal sacrifices in the Old Covenant pointed towards the ultimate sacrifice, i.e. Jesus the Lamb of God, whose blood was shed to take away our sins once for all. 

Let's look at the sacrifice in the Old Covenant first. 

Exodus 30:10 (NKJV) says, 'And Aaron shall make atonement upon its horns once a year with the blood of the sin offering of atonement; once a year he shall make atonement upon it throughout your generations.' 

Here, you see that Aaron, the high priest at that time, was to make the altar ready for the service to God. How? By putting the blood of the animal sacrifice on the corners (or the horns) of the altar as an atonement. 

Leviticus 17:11 (NKJV) says, 'For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.' 

You would have noticed this word 'atonement' in the above verses. The word 'atonement' here is the Hebrew word 'kaphar', meaning 'to cover'. It means the blood sacrifice of animals under the Old Covenant was made to cover the sins of the people.

So, 'to atone for sins' means 'to cover the sins'. For example, if you spill your coffee on the carpet, there's blemish there. If a person takes cloth to cover it, the stain of the coffee is still there, if you look underneath the carpet. Now, that is the same principle about atonement. It covers the sin. But it does not take away the sin once for all. It is only to cover the sin. And year after year, again and again, the high priest would have to sacrifice animals again and again. That's in the Old Covenant. 

Now, everything you see in the Old Covenant is a 'typology' of what is in the New Covenant. All these point towards Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 

Now that you have understood about the blood shed through the sacrifice of animals in the Old Covenant, let's go to the Scripture about the blood of Jesus Christ in the New Covenant. 

Hebrews 10:1-4 (NKJV) says, 'For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect... But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.'

Here, the writer of the book of Hebrews was referring about the Old Covenant. The sacrifices were offered continually year by year. 

Let's contrast the above verses with Revelation 1:5 (NKJV) that says, 'And from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood.'

You see, Jesus' blood did what the blood of animals could not! Jesus' blood not only covers for our sins, Jesus' blood washes our sins once for all! He is the perfect sacrifice. In Him is no sin and no blemish at all. Animals are not perfect. But Jesus the Lamb of God is perfect in all His ways. That is the difference. 

Let's go to the details on this word 'wash' here. The Greek word for 'wash' here is 'louw', and it means 'to wash, to cleanse, to bathe (the whole person)'. There's another Greek word for 'wash', that is, 'niptw', and it means 'to wash the hands, the feet, or the face only; or to wash ceremonially'. In other words, to wash some parts only, and not the whole part. 

Back to Revelation 1:5. Here, the word 'wash' is 'louw', not the word 'niptw'. It means 'to thoroughly wash and bathe the whole person', or 'to totally (not partly) wash and bathe the entire person'. It speaks of complete washing from head to toe; inside and outside; all of us - spirit, soul, body! 

You see the difference between 'louw' and 'niptw'? 

So, the conclusion is the blood of Jesus Christ shed for you on the cross washes you completely, not partly. The blood of Jesus Christ doesn't just cover your sins, nor just partly washes your sins, but completely covers and washes your sins!

Let's go to John 1:29 (NKJV) now. Let Scripture interpret Scripture. This verse says, 'The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and he (John) said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"' 

Here, John the Baptist said, 'takes away the sin of the world'. That's what John the Baptist declared to everyone about Jesus, who Jesus is, and why Jesus came to this earth for. Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Notice the singular word 'sin' there. It encompasses all forms of sins of this world. Therefore, if you have Jesus in your life, you can be rest assured that whatever your wrongs or sins may be, you can come before the Lord and acknowledge it before the Lord. The Lord is here for you. The Lord loves you, and the Lord is here to forgive you. The Lord is here to cleanse you from all those wrongs or sins. You are made new again! 

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) says, 'Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.' 

This is for anyone who is in Christ. So beloved of God, this is the time to come before the Lord. Draw near to Him, and He will draw near to you. Return to Him, and He will return to you. Come before Him just as you are, and let Him wash and cleanse you completely.

You see, under the Old Covenant, people's conscience still bothered them, especially when they wanted to draw near to the Lord and worship the Lord. Even after offering the animal sacrifices, they still felt very aware of their sins and their inadequacies before the Holy God! 

In other words, the Old Covenant sacrifices could not cleanse the conscience, and therefore the person may still be feeling guilty about the sins he has committed. 

Now, you may be saying, "Where is the proof in the Bible?" 

Let's look at Hebrews 9:9 (NKJV), and then Hebrews 9:11 (NKJV). 

Hebrews 9:9 (NKJV) says, 'It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience...' 

But now look here in Hebrews 9:11 (NKJV), 'But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation.' 

Hebrews 9:9 tells us that the Old Testament sacrifices could not perfect the conscience. And then in Hebrews 9:11, 'But Christ came...' See the words 'But Christ came'? It means there is a contrast here. It means what the sacrifices in the Old Testament could not do, Jesus' sacrifice could! 

Let's continue further with Hebrews 9:12-15 (NKJV), 'Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood, He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.' 

You just need to look at the three underlined parts: 'with His own blood, once for all, cleanse your conscience'. That summarizes all!

So, as a beloved of God today, because of this blood of Jesus Christ that washes and cleanses you, you can now live a life clear of any form of guilt, and you can live a life clear in your conscience. Amen!

Click here for the full message in TiC YouTube Channel

The time for repair is NOW!

Words from the Lord:

"If in the recent years you have suffered much damage to your physical health, emotional health, mental health, or even spiritual health due to whatever reason, this is the time to repair! You are entering a time for repair! What the enemy has inflicted upon you in the recent years, this is the time I am reversing it for you. Put all your trust in Me. Look to Me and My Word. I will make a way for you. I will show you the way. When I work, no one can reverse it. The enemy has to hands-off you. The enemy has no choice but to leave. Receive these words by faith." 

What is the definition of the word 'repair'? 

It can be defined as:

- to put right what has gone wrong

- to fix up what has been damaged

- to set right (what is faulty or worn) to a good condition again

- to restore something to working order

- to rebuild and reconstruct what has been broken 

Let's go to the Scripture for an example of God repairing His people. We go all the way to the days of Elijah. 

1 Kings 18:1-2 (NKJV) says, 'And it came to pass after many days that the word of the Lord came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, "Go, present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the earth." So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab; and there was a severe famine in Samaria.' 

An encounter between Elijah and Ahab was about to take place. Elijah represents YHWH, the true and living God of Israel, whereas Ahab represents 'the master of this world'. For the record, Ahab was one of the worst kings ever ruled in Israel. He had caused much damage to the people of Israel those days. In his twenty-two years as king of Israel, he did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him (1 Kings 16:30). And with the help of his wife Jezebel, he vigorously and violently promoted the worship of other gods in Israel, turning the people of Israel away from YHWH. 

In 1 Kings 18:19, Elijah said, "Now therefore, send and gather all Israel to me on Mount Carmel, the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal, and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel's table." 

By the way, who was Jezebel? She was a dominant force and influence on Ahab, persuading him to abandon YHWH and establish the religion of Baal in Israel. She influenced the whole of Israel to bow down to Baal and Asherah. 

In 1 Kings 18:23-24, Elijah said further, "Therefore let them give us two bulls; and let them choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it; and I will prepare the other bull, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it. Then you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord; and the God who answers by fire, He is God." 

In 1 Kings 18:30, Elijah then said to all the people, "Come near to me." So all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down. 

Interestingly, the word 'repair' here is 'raphah' in Hebrew. 

This word 'raphah' can be defined as:

- to make proper (what has been damaged)

- to mend (what has been torn)

- to bring cure (to a predicament)

- to cause to heal

- to make whole again

As you can see here, the Lord was about to 'repair' what has been 'damaged' in Israel those days. In other words, the Lord was about to 'raphah'. So it is the same in your life right now, beloved of God. Whatever damage that has been caused by the enemy against you, the Lord is right now and right here repairing it! 

1 Kings 18:38-39 (NKJV) says, 'Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, "The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!"'

You see, what the prophets of Baal failed, God did it! The prophets of Baal were imploring their gods, but no one answered. They did everything they knew how, but no one answered. But when it came to Elijah's turn, the Lord answered with fire! And all the people saw it! They saw it with their own eyes! And thus they fell on their faces, and they said, "The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!" 

Hallelujah! That was a great victory! The Lord God Almighty, the Lord God of Israel has triumphed!

That was during the days of Elijah. But the same it is for you right now. This is the time the Lord is also doing the repair, repairing you (and your situation) from any form of damage or brokenness in your life! 

Now that you have looked at an example in the Scripture, what do you do at this point of time? You meditate on God's Word!

The one question people ask is, "How to meditate on God's Word?" 

For example, if you need healing to your physical body, what do you do? You meditate on some Scripture verses that speak about your healing! 

I'm going to show you some Scripture verses on healing, personalized for you, so you can read it over and over again upon yourself. This is one way you can meditate on God's Word, that is by reading it out for your ears to hear. Why is it so important to read it out for your ears to hear? Because Romans 10:17 says, 'So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing (comes) by the word of God.' It means your faith arises when you hear the Word of God! This faith will overcome all those infirmities and predicaments! 

Here are some examples of Scripture verses on healing:

Psalm 41:3

The Lord sustains, refreshes, and strengthens me. He completely heals me from my infirmities.

1 John 5:14-15 

Now this is the confidence that I have in Him, that if I ask anything according to His will, He hears me. [Sickness is not His will. Divine health and wholeness is His will]. I know that He hears me, and what I ask of Him, I receive by faith.

Proverbs 4:20-22

I give attention to God's words. I incline my ear to His sayings. I do not let them depart from my eyes. I keep them in the midst of my heart. For they are life, and health to all my flesh.

Isaiah 54:17

No weapon formed against me shall prosper. [Sickness is a weapon of the enemy]. And every tongue that rises against me in judgment, I shall condemn. This is my heritage as a servant of the Lord. My righteousness comes from Him.

Deuteronomy 3:22

I do not fear, for the Lord my God Himself fights for me, and is for me.

Click here for the full message in TiC YouTube Channel

God's restoration is at hand!

Joel 1:4 (NKJV) says, 'What the chewing locust left, the swarming locust has eaten; What the swarming locust left, the crawling locust has eaten; And what the crawling locust left, the consuming locust has eaten.' 

Are you in a situation when the enemy has been trying to 'eat up all your blessings' and trying to steal, kill, and destroy God's vision and God's purpose for you? 

It's like one comes after another, and the enemy is unrelenting in trying to devour all that the Lord has built in your life. 

Beloved of God, if you are one of those who are going through such situation, take heart. Help is at hand. God's restoration is at hand.

In Joel 1:4 about the locusts, Joel was describing the present state of God's people at that time. They were devastated by successive swarms of locusts. First, chewing. Then, swarming. Then, crawling. And finally, consuming. At that time, Judah was experiencing this devastation. The time was extremely critical and difficult. It's like swarms and swarms, and waves after waves of devastation continued on and on against God's people. But thanks be to God this Book of Joel gave God's people much hope!

Now, this is the good news for you today as well. Whatever your situation that you may be facing at the moment, I want to encourage and assure you that there is hope, my friend. Keep looking to the Lord who is your only hope. 

After all, the name 'Joel' means 'Jehovah is God', or 'Yahweh is God'. Interestingly, this constitutes a short confession of faith, very much like in the New Testament, the confession 'Jesus is Lord'. 

Indeed, Yahweh is God, and Yeshua is Lord! He is the King of all kings, and the Lord of all lords! Every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess, that He is the Lord! In heaven, on earth, and under the earth! Who can withstand Him? No one! 

And in Him, there is hope, and there is restoration to whatever that the enemy has destroyed. There is hope for you! The Lord is in the midst of restoring whatever that you have lost. Just do not limit Him how He's going to do it, and in what way He's going to do it. 

People of God, if you ask me what is the book in the Bible that we all should read in this time and season, it would be the Book of Joel. Take some time to read it. It's not a long book. The Lord will speak to you and assure you. 

This is the time He is in the midst of restoring (to you) what you have lost, and restoring (to you) what the enemy has stolen from you! Prophet Joel put it aptly here in Joel 1:19-20, 'O Lord, to You I cry out; For fire has devoured the open pastures, and a flame has burned all the trees of the field. The beasts of the field also cry out to You, for the water brooks are dried up, and fire has devoured the open pastures.' 

As you cry out to the Lord, Joel 2:18-19 says, 'Then the Lord will be zealous for His land, and pity His people. The Lord will answer and say to His people, "Behold, I will send you grain and new wine and oil, and you will be satisfied by them; I will no longer make you a reproach among the nations."' 

I know Prophet Joel at that time was referring this to God's people and God's land. But right now, the Lord is also speaking this to you regarding your situation. 

Joel 2:21-22 says, 'Fear not, O land; Be glad and rejoice, for the Lord has done marvelous things! Do not be afraid, you beasts of the field; For the open pastures are springing up, and the tree bears its fruit; The fig tree and the vine yield their strength.' 

What a promise from the Lord! 

So fear not, no matter what you have been going through. And fear not, no matter what you have been hearing, or whatever news that you have been hearing at the moment. Just keep looking to the Lord. Just keep putting all your trust in the Lord. And the Lord will know how to do His part. 

Joel 2:23-24 says, 'Be glad then, you children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God; For He has given you the former rain faithfully, and He will cause the rain to come down for you - The former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. The threshing floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil.' 

This is God's assurance and promise for you, no matter what you are going through at the moment. The Lord is faithful. The Lord has been faithful, the Lord is faithful, and the Lord will still be faithful to you, as long as you keep looking to the Lord, and as long as you keep surrendering, submitting, and yielding your life to the Lord. 

Now, this is the key verse for today. The Lord says in Joel 2:25, "So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the crawling locust, the consuming locust, and the chewing locust..." 

The word 'restore' here is 'shawlam' in Hebrew. It can mean any of these: 'to make good, to make amends, to give again, to recompense, to pay back, to prosper, to make complete, to keep safe, to make peace, to reward, to make perfect, to make whole'. 

As you can see here, there is a broad meaning to this word 'shawlam' or 'restore'. Yes, all those 'fruits' in your life that the enemy has destroyed, broken, or stolen, the Lord is restoring to you. Yes, for some of you, even those 'wasted years' that you have had, the Lord will know how to restore back to you all those 'wasted years'. 

In short, the Lord is restoring you, and the Lord is making your life fruitful again! 

In Joel 2:26-27, the Lord says, "You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you; And My people shall never be put to shame. Then you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel: I am the Lord your God and there is no other. My people shall never be put to shame."

In Joel 2:28-29, the Lord says, "And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days." 

Indeed, in spite of all the plans of the enemy against God's will, God visions, and God's purpose for your life, the Lord is visiting you in a time like this. Get ready for dreams from the Lord. Get ready for visions from the Lord. He is pouring out His Spirit like never before. 

The Spirit of the Lord is moving right now. The Spirit of the Lord will fall upon many, like you've never seen before. The Lord is visiting many all over the world, even in dreams and visions. 

The Lord is visiting you, and the Lord is visiting many more all over the world, even in supernatural ways. This is the time! And He's going to open the spiritual eyes, and enlighten the spiritual eyes of many.

Now, this is not my idea or my imagination. But this is what the Scripture says. I am just saying what God says. I am just quoting from the Scripture regarding this time and season of the Lord. So my friend, take heart, and fear not. The Lord is at hand. The Lord's restoration in your life is at hand. Receive this promise of the Lord by faith, even in your situation that you are facing now. Just do not limit how God is going to do it, and in what way He is going to do it. Because His wisdom is unfathomable. His wisdom is unmeasurable. His ways are higher than our ways. His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. Amen! 

Click here for the full message in TiC YouTube Channel

How to respond and prepare in a perilous time like this?

We cannot deny the war that's currently happening in the Middle East will likely have a chain reaction in the rest of the world. In other words, it's going to spread like wildfire. In short, the world is at war!

When you see what's happening in Israel and the surrounding nations, and it's happening like never before seen in the past fifty years, then you can't help but to take note. Why? Because Israel is like a time clock. The clock is ticking! 

One of the biblical ways how the Lord reveals the times and seasons is through the events that are happening in this world. 

So, in a perilous time like this, how do you (as His people) respond and prepare yourselves? 

Of course, you can pray. Pray for the nations that He has put in your hearts to pray for. And never cease praying.

Let's go to what Jesus has said in the Scripture regarding the time and season, particularly the last days. 

In Mark 13:28-30 (NKJV), He said: "Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see these things happening, know that it is near - at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place." 

In Mark 13:32-34 (NKJV), He said further: "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch." 

In Mark 13:35-37 (NKJV), He then said: "Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming - in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning - lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!" 

So, this is the key word now: "Watch!" 

The word 'watch' here in Greek is 'gregoreo'. It can mean any of these: 'Be vigilant, be watchful, be alert, to take heed, to keep awake, be on guard, be discerning'. 

Even though different believers and Bible scholars may differ on the events leading to Jesus' coming, and what must happen first before Jesus returns, no one can deny that Jesus is coming soon! How soon is soon? I would say looking at the events happening in the world nowadays, the time is near! 

I'm going to show you five ways to respond and prepare in a time like this:

1. Be on guard and be discerning

In Mark 13:5-8 (NKJV), Jesus said: "Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He,' and will deceive many. But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows." 

In Mark 13:21-23 (NKJV), Jesus said: "Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'Look, He is there!' do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. But take heed; see, I have told you all things beforehand." 

In 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 (NKJV), the apostle Paul wrote: 'Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.'

In all the Bible verses you've read here, the warning of the Scripture is consistent, and that is to be on guard and be discerning. 

2. Don't lose hope

In Titus 2:11-13 (NKJV), the apostle Paul wrote: 'For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ...' 

The apostle Paul reminded us that Jesus' first coming brought salvation, and he also instructed us to live soberly, live righteously, and live a godly life in this present age.

And see the words 'blessed hope'? What is this 'blessed hope'? The expectation of Jesus returning and receiving us. That is the blessed hope! 

3. Encourage one another

In 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18 (NKJV), the apostle Paul wrote: 'For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.' 

You see, the promise that the Lord will descend from heaven with a shout in 1 Thessalonians 4 here is followed by this command to comfort one another, or in other words, to encourage one another.

4. Keep doing what God has asked you to do

Whatever vision, mission, and purpose that the Lord has spoken for you to be and to do, keep doing it. Yes, in each time and season, keep doing it. At different junctures of your life, the Lord may re-strategize you, and the Lord may re-direct you. Your part is to follow Him. Be led by His Spirit.

In Mark 13:7-10 (NKJV), Jesus said: "But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows. But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them. And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations." 

The good news of the Lord Jesus Christ and of His kingdom must first be preached to all the nations, and then the end will come. This is God's commission and mandate for each of us as a believer of the Lord. You see, Jesus warned of troubling events as we near the end of the age, and that includes the persecution of believers. But Jesus also added that nothing, not even persecution, should distract us from this one essential thing, that is to continue to preach the gospel to every tribe and tongue. 

In Acts 1:8 (NKJV), Jesus said: "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

5. Look up! 

Look up to Him and His Word! Do not let your eyes depart from looking to Him and His Word! Be vigilant and be ready, as if the Day is today! Turn away from your sins. Clear what needs to clear in your life. Don't delay, people! Cleanse your heart. Cleanse your hands. 

In Psalm 24:1-6 (NKJV), David wrote: 'The earth is the Lord's, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein. For He has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the waters. Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face.' 

In Psalm 24:7-10 (NKJV), David wrote: 'Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory.' 

Click here for the full message in TiC YouTube Channel